Monthly Archives: April 2010

Today representatives from all sections of the 5th Dartford Scout Group attended a St George’s Day service in full smart uniform with the other groups in the Dartford District. We assembled in Central Park at 10:45 for the 11:00 service and then paraded around the town @ 11:40.

Thankyou to everyone who made the effort to attend this important service and to all the supporters who lined the streets to cheer us on.

Ted ‘Cougar’ Essex stepped in to lead the group in the parade as GSL Paul ran the London Marathon to raise money for the EllenorLions Hospice, which he did in @ 4 1/2 hrs . Paul had challenged all sections to try and match his 26.2 mile effort in what ever way they could.

Each cub in the Collins and Leigh Cub Packs ran 2 laps of the park and 8 members of the Earley Scout Troop walked the 8 miles from Greenhithe back to the hall along the Thames.

Please forward any photo’s taken for our archive to me at jason@5thdartfordscouts.org.uk; Photo’s should ideally be 600 x 800 resolution. You’ll find a good Microsoft power tool for XP in our downloads section, which will do this for you.

Tonight GSL Paul, assisted by Eagles patrol leader Dom, invested new member Fergus and new leader Darren in to the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s Earley Troop. On behalf of everyone in the Earley Troop and in the group, we welcome you and wish you many years happy scouting with us.

Following on from their success in the penalty shoot out competition during the visit to Dartford F.C. in January 2010. One Explorer (Jacob) & One Scout (Lewes) from 5th Dartford Scout Group took part in the final of the Community Penalty Challenge in glorious sunshine on Saturday 17th April before the Darts last home match against Aveley in a championship winning season.

They were up against 20 to 30 other hopeful youngsters from the local area. After the knock-out rounds Jacob was successful in getting through to the last four of the final that took place at half time on the main pitch and finished a credible 2nd place receiving a trophy & signed football.

Well done to both lads from all at the 5th and thank you Dartford F.C. for organizing the event and their hospitality.

At 09:00 on Good Friday, 19 Earley scouts, 3 Johnson Explorers, 5 leaders and 2 instructors set of in three groups from HQ; to cycle a planned route to the Shaws campsite in Cudham. The going was tough for some of the younger scouts as the weather and the hills were against us, but everyone made their best effort.

The Shaws is a Guide camp, but at this time of year only the 9th were as willing to brave the elements as the Earley troop and aside from a single Guide group who were confined to quarters, we had the land to ourselves. The facilities at the Shaws were quite respectable with a powered wooden mess hall for cooking and eating and allocated block showering and toilet facilities, which were all in a good order.

Upon arrival, camp was struck and the lads went off orienteering, before honing their backwards cooking skills by preparing their evening meal of Bangers, mash and beans.

Saturday was again focused on the great outdoors with the leaders walking the orienteering course with the group, then mountain boarding and grass sledging before lunch. In the afternoon we looked at woodsman skills with log gathering, sawing and timber splitting with axes. A campfire was created to cook the free range chickens, which were slaughtered for us by Richardson’s. Upon being delivered to camp by Maggie and Lynne, the chickens were plucked, beheaded and gutted by the scouts before being seasoned, double wrapped and baked in the embers, before being devoured with a fine selection of root vegetables by the ravenous scouts.

After Sundays breakfast, there was an Easter egg hunt before Dan, one of our departing scouts presented each member of camp with an Easter egg, which was generously given by his parents. For Dan, Billy and Gareth, this was their last camp as Early troop, as they now move on to the Johnston explorers with Daniel and Jack – Good luck to you all on the next stage of scouting and we hope to see you at future group camps.

Thankfully, the route home after lunch was easier than getting there and in spite of a brief hailstorm before we set off, the sun shone, the lads seemed to finally get the hang of their gears and we all enjoyed the journey back to the hall.

A big thanks to Dave Monteith who planned and executed an excellent camp and in doing so gained his night’s away permit.

Well done everyone who attended for representing the Earley troop and the 5th Dartford Scout group in a respectful and thoughtful manner as we would like to visit this site and enjoy its facilities again.

The first ever sleepover for the 5th Dartford scout group’s Philpott Beaver colony was held tonight at 1st Dartford Scout Hall. 6 Beavers arrived at 15:30 for an evening themed around Dr Who, where the young people made their own T.A.R.D.I.S and got a surprise visit from “The Master” aka GSL Paul Boreham in disguise. Hot cross buns were cooked by the young adventurers over a camp fire; they prepared and peeled their own vegetables to eat with dinner and even did the washing up afterwards, albeit under duress. There were games and fun aplenty with a sleeping bag race at 06:30 and the event finished at 09:30, with the youngsters begging the question “When can we do it again?” Well Aunty Beaver, will it be soon? Do keep us posted.

Tonight, 2 of our Philpott Beavers, pictured with Aunty Beaver, were awarded their Chief-Scout bronze awards. Alas Bear Grylls couldn’t be there on the night, but everyone at the 5th Dartford Scout Group are exceptionally pleased with these two young members for working toward and achieving the highest accreditation a Beaver Scout can achieve – well done.